Tomorrow is February 1. Let's not think of it as the February Blahs, but as...Take Two Tuesday!

This is a great day to decide to clean up your act and renew your resolutions. But first, ask yourself: Why didn't you stick to them the last time? Probably because you had "exterior motivations" of getting slim, saving money, etc. Instead, try to think more from the inside out, starting with an emotional motivator that means more to you than a size on the back tag of your jeans.

Your first and most important "Get back on track" piece of equipment

My first piece of advice: Do it from a place of being kind to yourself. Don't hate and punish yourself by dragging yourself out of bed with less than seven hours' sleep and going to the gym. Sleep in. Be rested, eat well, treat yourself to berries and a lovely fish dinner, and then, only when you're feeling rested and fueled, go work out. Think of it as a way of banishing the blahs: Treat yourself to the things that will pay you back. At SELF we say that "health is the new handbag," and what we mean by that is: Invest in your health and well-being. Do it for you!

The exterior will reflect the interior, meaning happiness will lead to healthiness, if you start from a place of wanting to be the best you, inside and out. Want to be happier? Less stressed? More calm? Find purpose in your work and relationships? These are goals that allow you to truly change from within. Whatever is stressing you out can wait for an hour while you go take a swim, a walk, a yoga class. Whoever bummed you out or pissed you off today doesn't deserve the headspace that will drive you to the cupboard to munch on the wrong foods, late at night, as you think about the conflicts of your day. Let those things be exterior, roll off you, and then tell yourself that you can and will tackle them tomorrow. But today, take care of yourself. Only you can do that!

Why don't "resolutions" work? Because they are too sweeping, all-encompassing, draconian and usually negative. As in: I'll get to the gym every day! I'll swear off sugar! I'll be more organized. Well, those are great impulses, but to be kind to yourself sometimes you have to skip the early morning call time, have a sweet and let the ugly stack of bills sit there for another night while you watch Biggest Loser or American Idol with your honey, just for fun!

People always think, "If I lost a few sizes, got in shape, I'd be happier." But the truth is, if you got a little happier, you'd stop all the self-destructive habits and get healthier. Resolutions don't work because you don't hate yourself enough to punish yourself with grim gyms and tasteless diet foods. If you like yourself, which most of us do, then treat yourself to healthy foods like fresh berries and yogurt for breakfast, salmon or salad for lunch, and a healthy dinner that doesn't involve fried greasy takeout.

So on Take Two Tuesday, first cut yourself a break and get sleep, then treat yourself right to the best fresh food you can find, and if you feel like working out, do it. But go to bed early, to start a positive chain reaction. Now that wasn't so hard, was it?

Too busy to take this simple advice? Think of this: The airlines say put on your own oxygen mask first, because if you collapse you're no good to anyone around you. The key process here is "too much of a good thing is a bad thing," meaning that by giving too much to everyone else around you (boss, spouse, kids, friends, etc), you end up with no time or energy to take care of the inner or outer you. So many of us fall into the trap of defining being successful as taking care of the house, the car the kids the job and all the things we own. We need to take care of ourselves, both our inner and outer selves. It's not selfish to make time or invest in your health and happiness. It's self-preservation.